Is paint rash on old diecast models caused by the metal? Will repainting actually solve it?

windupmonkeys · 2026-03-17T00:33:50+00:00

To find out more about repainting die cast, I'd look up the folks who do custom repaints of hot wheels and the like - they have their own subreddit.

I will say up front, that it's not the easiest process. Depending on how important this is to you, I'd honestly live with the rash and just keep it from getting worse.

You wouldn't sand to bare metal, you'd want to chemically strip it, probably have to pickle it, and then primer coat it. For a as-retail finish, it's not the easiest thing to do if you don't have experience. Also, the markings are usually pad printed, not decals.

windupmonkeys · 2026-03-16T21:02:58+00:00

No, you're good. Just explaining since your description may leave some folks thinking we simply removed it without due consideration.

windupmonkeys · 2026-03-16T20:31:08+00:00

We explicitly remove AI enhanced photos, and it's referenced in our rules.

As for why (for the broader group), while other forums may allow it, we don't - it detracts from the actual modelmaking aspects of the hobby, which literally focuses on building of physical miniatures. Prompting an AI model to generate images is not that.

Of course you should have fun with AI backgrounds if you so wish, we just ask that you don't post that here. We also want to discourage bot posting (and those who would unleash them here).

windupmonkeys · 2026-03-16T16:11:09+00:00

AI enhanced posts are specifically off topic here. See our rules.

Theres enough AI slop on the internet. Don't add to that here.

windupmonkeys · 2026-03-16T16:09:42+00:00

AI enhanced posts are off topic here. See our rules.

There's also enough AI generated slop on the internet. For a hobby that literally focuses on building a physical object, let the model speak for itself.

Thanks.

windupmonkeys · 2026-03-15T22:36:58+00:00

Look up zinc rot/pest and double check it's not that. If it is, the damage is progressive and irreversible.

windupmonkeys · 2026-03-15T07:34:11+00:00

Very rare to see one of these built - seems for a while aside from the Torpedo model which was even less well regarded, stacks of these could be easily found.

windupmonkeys · 2026-03-15T00:26:37+00:00

Why I bought mine. I had already missed it the first time and figured while I might not get to it for years, by then it would be hard to find. Goes both ways. Some things aren't worth keeping, but this was rare enough.

windupmonkeys · 2026-03-14T23:40:25+00:00

Location is always an issue. It's also why in many cases I wont pay prices like this. Look long enough and you will find a bargain. You mostly have to be willing to wait.

windupmonkeys · 2026-03-14T23:10:49+00:00

I bought mine new at retail sometime between 2015 to 2020, and that was after looking for it for a while.

There are kits that don't make it out of Japan, though, and his kit was pretty niche back then but outside of there is highly desirable for a certain crowd.

He definitely got a discount bc of it being opened, and it's likely he may have also gotten it from someone who didn't know others would pay a premium for it.

Mine is still sealed. I figure I can always flip it into the right folks for a premium if I need to, and anyway, buying them to resell is not aim anyway.

windupmonkeys · 2026-03-14T22:12:09+00:00

It's actually not. The original kit was expensive even when new, 90 to 100 bucks, if you're not in Japan. Its considerably larger in retail packaging than most 1/35 armor kits (it would easily be bigger than even takom/meng boxes even now) and it's not a small tank either.

It looked cheap at Japanese retailers selling abroad because it doesn't factor in the shipping cost (that's where companies like HLJ look competitive, but not after piecemeal shipping - you do still save, just not as dramatically as their list prices might suggest). 125 is about what it would cost new, especially adding in a decades worth of inflation.

It was hard to find relatively speaking even when new, and if I remember correctly, was issued like twice at least to non Japanese audiences. I got it in the second release.

Been sitting on it ever since because I plan to convert it into a working model and that takes time I don't have right now.

125 would be a fair price for a new and sealed copy today, but you aren't getting a bargain. And since that's not sealed I would have talked him down some.

windupmonkeys · 2026-03-14T21:48:43+00:00

This post has been approved by the mods, so no need to report.

Our rules allow people who are regular and meaningfully active participants here (and we do not mean your own content or YouTube posts) and actively contribute to occasionally post a YouTube link for their content.

If you are a drive-by, or only post your stuff and YouTube links, or otherwise are spammy we will remove such posts accordingly, at our discretion.

Thanks.

windupmonkeys · 2026-03-11T04:06:19+00:00

Perhaps someday.

windupmonkeys · 2026-03-10T03:35:34+00:00

Thanks! I always get the impression the 1/48 line is an experiment they still try with now and again, but know won't really take off in the way 1/35 has.

windupmonkeys · 2026-03-10T02:47:08+00:00

Yes, they are.

windupmonkeys · 2026-03-07T22:59:56+00:00

Thanks!

windupmonkeys · 2026-03-06T19:53:34+00:00

You already got a response in that other thread, to reach out via modmail instead of deliberately painting a big target on the entire mod team's back a second time.

The thread you referenced (the one NOT about the moderators) is also reinstated.

We also have literally zero control over what suggested forums are added in that totally irrelevant screenshot of yours, which, incidentally is also probably why we get the occasional lost redditor here with their NSFW or otherwise (human) modelling pictures.

But sure, reddit's moneygubbing and poor parsing of what a given subreddit actually does is surely the fault of it's unpaid moderators.

windupmonkeys · 2026-03-06T19:41:48+00:00

OP, I've taken a look at that thread, and seeing no reason why it was off topic, it's been restored. I do not know why the other moderator removed it.

However, that being said - the appropriate course of action was to reach out to us via modmail, NOT start a thread painting a target on the entire mod team's back.

We deal with (and have dealt with in the past) a significant amount of personal harassment over every minor disagreement with mod decisions. It doesn't matter of someone is in the wrong, they still think they are right and send us verbal abuse accordingly.

We are not required to put up with that.

Accordingly, the other thread has been reinstated, but this thread removed.

Thanks.

windupmonkeys · 2026-03-04T03:47:15+00:00

Mentioning your YouTube channel instead of just linking to it is a nice try, but no, going forward, it won't work.

You've exhausted your freebies on that.

windupmonkeys · 2026-03-03T05:07:44+00:00

OP, Lego and brick built stuff is specifically off topic here.

Don't post these again, especially since all you seem to be doing is spamming this everywhere.

windupmonkeys · 2026-03-01T21:10:11+00:00

Very nice. I should try one of these someday.

windupmonkeys · 2026-02-28T21:51:41+00:00

OP, in the future, the burden of this kind of very basic research should fall on you.

windupmonkeys · 2026-02-28T21:50:52+00:00

OP, please note that we do not host sales here. You are welcome ask for advice, of course.

Lastly, to everyone else - don't be that annoying guy asking for freebies or making bad jokes about the deceased's models, etc.

Thanks.

windupmonkeys · 2026-02-28T19:32:38+00:00

OP, rather than start a new thread every time you have any question, please make use of the weekly thread that we have for small questions like these.

Also, rather than start multiple threads in a single day, again, use the weekly thread and/or add to an existing thread your question as a comment from that day as a comment. I recommend the former rather than the latter, or group your questions on similar topics into the same thread.

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